Background-Inguinal hernia surgery has undergone numerous advances in the l
ast few years. This study analysed the changes in the practice of one surge
on in a district general hospital over a seven year interval. The effect of
changing from Bassini to Lichtenstein repair in 1994 was evaluated.
Methods-The study involved two parts: first a search of a computerised data
base of inguinal hernia procedures, and second, postal audits of men who ha
d an inguinal hernia repair in 1993 and 1994 with outpatient follow up for
those with a possible recurrence.
Results-A total of 1037 hernias were repaired over the seven years. There w
as an increase in the proportion of day cases from 18% to 70% and the numbe
r of operations performed under local anaesthetic rose from 1% to 45%. The
postal audits had response rates of 79% (1993) and 66% (1994). Some 5/98 (5
%) recurrent hernias were identified from the 1993 (Bassini) patients compa
red with 1/67 (1.5%) from the 1994 (Lichtenstein) cohort.
Conclusion-Lichtenstein hernia repair can be performed safely as a day case
using local anaesthetic in the majority of patients and appears to have a
lower recurrence rate than Bassini repair.